Power lawn mower



March 21, 1939.

T. B. FUNK EOWER LAWN MOWER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Fb. 25, 1958 grwwwbob TRUM N E.'FLINK March 21, 1939. V Bi K 2,151,659

POWER LAWN MOWER Filed Feb 25, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 '1?" TEL/MAN E,FUNK Patented Mar. 21, 1939 UNITED- STATES 2,151,659 rowan LAWN MOWERTruman B. Funk, Jackson,

"Yard-Man, Inc., Jackson,

tion of Michigan Mich., assignor to Mich., a corpora- ApplicationFebruary 23, 1938, Serial No. 191,913

8 Claims.

The present invention relates to lawn mower construction, havingparticular reference to manually guided, power propelled lawn mowers.

It has been the practice for some time to associate a suitable primemover with a more or less standard type of manually propelled lawn mowerto convert the same into a manually guided lawn mower having powerdriven cut-- ting reel and ground wheels. A consideration of this typeof construction on the market today and as depicted by the patented artwill show the same to be of complicated and cumbersome construction forthe most part, in addition to being costly and difficult to operate.

It is the primary object of the present invention to motorize a lawnmower by resorting to very' few changes in construction over what may bebroadly referred to as present day conventional design of hand propelledmowers and at the same time simplify the operation of the motorizedmower so that it can be handled and operated in a manner substantiallyidentical to v the manuallypropelled mower, with the exception that theoperator has merely to guide the mower in its operation without anynecessity oi exerting forward pressure against the handle.

Another object is to provide a motorized lawn mower in which the groundwheels are clutched and declutched from the prime mover by bodilyrelative shifting movement between the ground wheel structure and theprime mover supporting structure.

Another object resides in providing a motorized a lawn mower in whichclutching and declutching the ground wheels from the prime mover can beaccomplished in a novel manner through ma nipulation of the handle barof the mower.

A further object is to provide a motorized lawn mower in which theclutching and declutching of the ground wheels to and from the primemover is accomplished through the manipulation of the handle barz-icterized by the fact that the handle bar is freely pivotable withreference to its supporting structure during operation of the mower.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a motorized lawnmower having the cutting reel and prime mover associated as one unitarystructure and the ground wheels as another unitary structure withmechanism for accomplishing relative movement between the unitarystructures for the purpose of clutching and deolutching the groundwheels to and from the prime mover.

The above objects and the mechanism for acof the mower and is charthelawn Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line II-II of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line III- rn of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4 shows the latch mechanism removed from the mower.

In the form of the invention illustrated, my

improved motorized lawn mower comprises a suitable rotatable cuttingreel ill, or other equivalent form of cutting or shearing mechanismcoacting with a cutter bar Ii and supported for rotation in end platesMend it, the shaft iii of the reel iii extending through the plate l4and carrying a suitable pulley it. Also supported between the end platesi2 and i4 is a ground roller of any suitable construction. It is to beunderstood that the specific construc: tion of the end plates, cuttingreel and ground roller may take numerousforms and shapes and may besubstantially identical to any one of the numerous constructions now onthe market. Spacing the end plates i 2 and i4 and bridging the cuttingreel i0 is a plate 22, which may be suitably connected to the end platesin any wellknown manner such as through the employment of bolts 23.Supported upon the plate 22 is shown a prime mover 24, which preferablytakes the form of an internal combustion engine of adequate horsepowerbut may be an electric motor or any other feasible form of prime mover.As shown, the prime mover 24 has a driving shaft 26 having adequatesupport in the bearing housing 28 to permit the relatively extendedoverhang illustrated. Upon the driving shaft 26 is a suitable drivepulley 29 in alignment with the pulley i 8 of thereel ill for drivingthe reel ill at a continuous, substantially constant speed throughsuitable belts 30. It is to .be understood that the reel I0 iscontinuously driven at all times during the operation of the prime mover24. In other words, the prime mover 24 and the cutting reel ill and itsassociated structure are tied together in one continuous drivingrelation.

The propelling ground wheels 82 and 84 are 'driving pulleys 44 andtransverse axle 88. Pivoted upon the axle 88 are hangers 88 and 48.which have pivotal connection at their lower ends with the end plates l2and i4 through suitable bolts or studs 42. It will be apparent that thehangers 88 and 48 support the forward portion of the cutting reelstructure and end plates with reference to the ground, whereas the portsthe rearward portion of the end plate structure with reference to theground. Fixed to the shaft 18 are relatively small driving pulleys 44and 48. which drive the groundwheels 82 and 84 through belts 48 and Iriding in sheaves l2 and 84, preferably constructed as a unitary part ofthe ground wheels 82 and 84.

The handle 88 may be of conventional construction, having a forked lowerend in the form of members 88 and 88 secured at their upper ends to thehandle proper at 82 and at their lower ends in the socket members 84 and88 pivoted upon the axle 88. The lower ends 88 and of the socket memberscarry pins "and 14, which are adapted to engage with the hangers 88 and48 to shift the latter into the position shown in Fig. 2 upon liftingthe handle 88 to an extreme upper position, the handle, of Fig. 2 beingshown in a normal intermediate and I4 out of contact with the hangers 88and 40. This shifting action results in relative movement between theground wheels 82 and 84 and the 48, which sufficiently tighten thedriving belts 48 and 58 to clutch "the prime mover 24 to the groundwheels.

The structure for holding the ground wheels and cutting reel carriageunit in the driving relation shown in Fig. 2 takes the form of a twopartlever 18 having a notch 18 embracing the axle 88 for pivotal movementand being held in position thereon and urged counter-clockwise by aspring clip 80. A notch 82 on the upper edge of the lever 18 engageswith a pin 84 upon the plate 22 to lock the relatively movable units inthe position shown in Fig. 2 upon raising the handle 88 to actuate thehangers 88 and 48 by the pins I2 and 14. For declutchlng the groundwheels 82 and 84 from the prime mover 24 a projection 88 is carried by abracket 88 extending between the forked members 88 and 88. When thehandie 88 is lowered, the projection 88 engages the lever 18, as shownin Fig. 3, resulting in the hangers 88 and 48 swinging-into a verticalposition due to the weight of the supported structure. As this actionshortens the distance between the shaft l8 and axle 88, the belts 48 and58 driving the ground wheels are slackened, declutching the wheels fromthe prime mover. In addition to the weight of the supported structureacting upon the hangers 48 and 88, the resiliency of the tensioned belts48 and 88 acts to shift the relatively movable parts from the positionshown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 3 upon depressing the lever 18.

One of the important features of the present invention is .deemed toreside in the fact that the handle 88 is free to pivot freely through asubstantial arc, during the guiding of the lawn mower with the groundwheel being driven, without interference 'with'the mechanism forclutching and declutching the prime mover and ground wheels. Thisarrangement removes the shock and fatigue which is experienced by theoperation where the handle follows the motion of the motorized chassis.Preferably, the are through ground roller 28 gup-.

position with the pins .12

-excess of the are which the handle of a conventional manually pushedlawn mower would normally swing in connection with its normal use. Inother words, the operation and feel of my improved motorized lawn moweris substantially that of the conventional manually pushed lawn mower,with clutching and declutching of the ground wheels from the prime movereffected by merely raising and lowering of the handle beyond the limitsof the arc through which it usually swings 'in operation. 1

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention it will be noted that thelever 18 is made up of two parts which may be longitudinally shiftedwith reference to each other and held in fixed position by suitable nutsand bolts 11. In this way the locked relation between the ground wheelsand the driving pulley for the same upon the cutting reel may be variedto assure correct tensloning of the belts 48 and 88.

The lever 18 also has the additional feature of functioning as a rigidlink to remove excessive strain that would otherwise be placed upon thebelts 48 and 58 at the time the cutting reel chassis, including theground roller 28, is bodily elevated. This action takes place frequentlyin using the mower in order to avoid obstructions, it being accomplishedby lifting up on the handle 56. Under such circumstances the lever 18,through its engagement with the pin 84, constitutes a rigid link betweenthe traction or ground wheel chassis and the cutting reel chassis.

As shown in the preferred arrangement, the cutting reel and the primemover are always in driving relation, the selective drive being confinedto the ground wheels. Where belts are being used for transmitting power,this avoids the difllculties connected with any attempt to selectivelydrive both the cutting reel and the ground wheels. It is a distinctadvantage to be able to drive the reel without transmitting power to thetraction chassis where grass and the like is being cut around suchobstructions as trees and shrubs and a dwell where only slightintermittent manual advancement of the mower is desirable. It will beunderstood that with the is extremely simple and inexpensive tomanufacture and except for the cost of the prime mover may bemanufactured at a cost not greatly exceeding that of the conventionalmanually pushed lawn mower. Moreover, the operation of the lawn mower isnot complicated, and it maybe skillfully used by any operator familiarwith the use of manually pushed lawn mowers.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to secure by LettersPatent and claim is: 1. A power mower, comprising a traction chassis, acutter chassis supporting a cutting element, a rotatable shaft, meanssupporting said cutter chassis from said traction chassis for shiftablemovement to change the relative position of said chassis with respect toeach other, a prime mover upon said cutter chassis permanently geared tosaid shaft, a pulley upon said shaft,

a pulley upon said traction chassis, a belt transmitting power betweensaid pulleys, a single handie for guiding said traction-chassis as wellas for selectively controlling the driving thereof from said primemover, means extending between said chassis actuated by said handlesupported in one of said chassis for relatively shifting said chassis tovary'the distance between said pulleys, a selfactuating latch having itscoacting parts carried by said chassis for locking said chassis in theirbutwardly shifted position tightening said belt upon said pulleys, andmeans associated with said handle and operated through the movement ofsaid handle for unlocking said latch to permit shifting of said chassisto slacken said belt.

2, A power mower as set forth in claim 1, in

which said latch is adjustable, whereby the tensioning of said belt maybe regulated with said chassis shifted into their locked position.

3. A power lawn mower comprising a cutter chassis supporting a cuttingreel having a reel shaft, a motor mounted upon 'said chassis andcontinuously driving said shaft, a pulley upon said shaft, groundwheels, means for supporting said ground wheels for bodily movementrelative to said shaft, a sheave associated with and driving said groundwheels and movable therewith, said sheave being in alignment with saidpulley and directly adjacent thereto, a driving belt running over saidpulley and sheave, a pivotally sup? ported handle for steering the motorover the ground, independently supported portions associated with saidhandle and said supporting means for said wheels with one of saidportions extending between said cutter chassis and said means, saidsupported portions being movable into and out of engagement with eachother upon pivotal movement of said handle for bodily moving said wheelsand sheave relative to said shaft to tighten said belt, latch means formaintaining said wheel and sheave following bodily movement in fixedrelation to the axis of said shaft, and means associated with saidhandle acting upon said latch upon pivotal movement of said hendle torelease said wheel and sheave for movement in a direction loosening saidbelt.

l in a power lawn mower having a cutter chassis, ground wheels shiftablerelative to the cutter chassis, and a pulley-belt driving connectionbetween said chassis and ground wheels, the combination with a singlehandle for steering and controlling the driving of the ground wheels,said handle being pivotally supported at one end to the mower andcapable of substantial up and down movement at its other end held by theoperator, of an actuated member interposed between said chassis andground wheels, means constituting operative connections between saidmember and said chassis and ground wheels, said member being moved toeffect relative movement between said chassis and ground wheels totighten the belt for selectively driving the ground wheels; a partconnected to said handle and moved thereby, said part having a portionspaced from and out of operative relation with said member with saidhandle in the positions required for steering purposes, said portionupon predetermined movement of said handle being brought into engagementwith said member to move the same, effecting relative movement betweensaid chassis and ground wheels to tighten the belt for selectivelydriving the ground wheels.

5. In a power lawn mower having a body structure including cuttingmechanism, traction wheels, and a prime mover, the combination withsition driving said 3 a single handle for steering the mower over theground and for controlling the driving of the traction wheels, saidhandle being connected at one end of said body for pivotal movement in avertical plane, the outer end of said handle having lower, intermediateand upper ranges of pivotal movement, with the intermediate range beingprovided to steer the mower over the ground, driving mechanism for thetraction wheels including a s'hiftable member movable from one positionto another for selectively clutching and declutching the traction wheelsto and from the prime mover, means associated with the handle and movedthereby, said means including a portion spaced from and out of operativerelation with said shiftable member, with said handle located withinsaid intermediate range and being adapted. to engage with said shiftablemember when said handle is pivoted into said upper range to move thesame into a potraction wheels, means for holding said member in saidposition thereafter while said handle is operating within sadintermediate range, and means associated with said handle and having apart engaging with said holding means for releasing said holding meanswith said handle pivoted into said lower range whereby said member isreleased to its initial position. i

[6. In a power lawn mower having a body structure, including cuttingmechanism, traction wheels, and a prime mover, the combination with ahandle for steering said mower over the ground and for selectivelycontrolling the driving of the traction wheels from the prime mover,means connecting one end of said handle to said body structure forpivotal movement to enable said'body structure to have movement relativeto said handle, said handle having one range for steering purposes overthe ground and. at least one other range of movement for controllingthe. selectable driving of the traction wheels from the prime mover,power transmitting means between said prime mover and traction wheelsincluding a driving belt, a member movable to one position to tightensaid belt and into another to loosen said belt, a lost motion connectionbetween said member and said handle, said connection upon movement ofsaid handle to said other range moving said member into a belttightening position, said connections having engaging parts throughwhich movement of said handle is imof movement structure for movementalong the ground, a

prime mover for driving said cutting mechanism and traction wheels, ahandle pivoted at its lower end to said body structure and extendingupwardly and rearwardly for manually guiding the mower over the ground,means pivotally connecting said handle to said body structure, "wherebysaid handle has pivotal movement in one range when the same is beingused for steering the body structure over'the ground 'and being capableof pivotal movement into another range for selectively controlling thedriving connection-between said prime mover and said traction wheels, abelt drive extending between said prime mover and said traction wheel's,belt tightening structure for selectively controlling the drive between4 said belt drive, said mechanism including a shiftable member movablefrom one position to another to tighten and loosen said belt drive. aportion upon said handle. a portion upon said member, said portionsbeing in spaced inoperative relation with each other with said handlepivoting within its steering range, said portion of said handle withsaid handle pivoted out oi said steering range engagin with said portionof said member to shift said member into a belt tightening position. theengagement between said portions to shift said member beingcharacterized by the iact that return movement of said handle into saidsteering range completely disconnects said handle irom said member.

8. A power lawn mower. comprising a body structure, cutting mechanismsupported in said body structure, traction wheels for supporting andpropelling said body structure over the ground, a prime mover supportedon said body pivoted structure, driving mechanism between said primemover and traction wheels, a steering handle at its lower end to saidbody structure, means for rendering said driving connection operativeand inoperative toselectively drive said traction wheels from said primemover, said means being entirely disconnected from said handle andhaving the operating parts thereof spaced from said handle except at thetime of extreme pivotal movement oi said handle beyond that required forsteering purposes, and a portion upon said handle engaging with saidmeans with said handle in its extreme pivoted position for shifting saidmeans into a position rendering said driving mechanism operative todrive said traction wheels, all parts of said handle following shiftingof said means being out of influencing relation with said means uponreturn movement to the range required for steering purposes.

' TRUMAN B. FUNK..

